Love Me Sweet

Michel Haddi is one of the small circle of photographers who manages, through their undeniable genius, to transform an image into a truly artistic creation. In the tradition of his precursors, fashion photographers Richard Avedon and Helmut Newton, or his contemporary Mario Testino, he seeks to track the identity behind the appearances of his subjects and focuses on the way in which the portrait can convey their personality, regardless of how famous they are. His complicity with the models enables him to obtain intense black and white shots, with surprising sensitivity and apparent ease. Animated by cinematographic references and icons swathed in couture clothing, the photographer's work clearly documents his talented career spanning over 20 years, surrounded by personalities who are idolised the world over.

Born in 1956 in Paris, nobody could have predicted that Michel Haddi would become the talented fashion photographer we now know. At the age of just 18, the young French Algerian alternated between construction work and night surveillance to earn his living.He grew passionate about photography after discovering a shot by Helmut Newton on the cover of Vogue. Four years later, he moved to London as an assistant to the photographer Ben Lee. Frequenting the high temples of showbiz, he met arts journalists who offered him photographic assignments in the most illustrious European magazines. Throughout his career, he worked for majors such as Vogue, Vanity Fair and Harperâ€™s Bazaar. His collaborations with luxury brands incited him to travel the world to produce his advertising campaigns. He crossed paths with celebrities along the way, for whom he produced countless black and white portraits: Clint Eastwood, Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, the Red Hot Chilli Pepper and Kate Moss among many others. He now lives between London and New York, also devoting time to his publishing house when he is not participating in exhibitions.